Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Detroit Free Press Entry Title: How 6 metro Detroit moms are coping more than a year into COVID-19 pandemic Entry Credit: Kimberly Mitchell, And the Free Press Staff Judge Comment: The project has fantastic storytelling elements coupled with plenty of multimedia aspects. The use and placement of many photos really assisted the stories being told. I really enjoyed the audio pieces that supported this project and it made me feel like I was present in the scenes that was being described. The overall presentation of this made it very relatable to other families coping with the coronavirus pandemic.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: The Grand Rapids Press Entry Title: Covid-19 in Michigan: By the numbers Entry Credit: Scott Levin Judge Comment: This is such an ambitious data project to continuously update, evaluate and adjust. I appreciate how it truly serves Michigan residents, better than national or state government data could. The graphs are simple and easy to understand, and the videos engaging. I do wish there was slightly more context to make it more of a storytelling experience, but as a public service, it excels.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Detroit Free Press Entry Title: I-375 construction decimated Detroit's Black communities. Now activists want repayment. Entry Credit: Eric D. Lawrence, And the Free Press Staff Judge Comment: I enjoy the interplay between modern and historic photos in this, all of which are very high-quality. The videos and gallery also offer great ways into the story. I do wish there had been more pull quotes or perhaps audio to emphasize throughout the story the voices you are trying to bring out. The depth of research and perspective used in reporting this topic show through in this story's presentation.
